OCD Action

OCDLONELY
Member

Hello people. As those of you who know me know I haven't been outside of my house in years. The last time I left was in June last year but that was to get in a car to go and visit a hospital. Well I have been out everyday since thursday not for long or far but I did it and nothing terrible happend. I had a few scares and had to do a few things to make myself feel better but not to any extremes. Today I even went as far as to visit a local shop and went inside. I feel I've achieved something but still feel its not really much is it? The only problem is a new struggle in my life has developed. I just thought I'd share this with you all. Take care

Daniel

Sat Sep 12 2009 16:24:34 #
Nimrod
Key Master

Hi Daniel,

I am so pleased to hear that you have left the house and that you went inside a local shop. That is great news. You say it is not really much; I don't agree with you, it is the equivalent of Niel Armstrong when he stepped on to the moon "One small step for man . . .etc". It is a great step and the beginning of the end of your life dictated by OCD, now you can look forward to overcoming the new struggle you mention and having a better life. We are all with you all the way.

Thanks so much for sharing this wonderfull news with us. Please keep us informed.

Best wishes,
Caps

Sat Sep 12 2009 20:33:29 #
Hairball
Member

Hey Daniel,

I agree with what caps said. It's a big step for you, and it's fantastic that you took that step! Every victory that you make over OCD should be celebrated and encouraged. Well done on leaving the house, and keep at it! Don't let OCD control you. Just keep steadily going along at a pace that suits you, and please keep us informed on how it goes for you. Perhaps you should try to go out to the shops more often. Maybe buy some milk or something? Good luck, and best wishes!

Hairball.

Sat Sep 12 2009 22:46:00 #
Parvez Choudhry
Member

Hi Daniel

I just wanted to echo what others have said. Well done for being so brave! I hope you will conquer the new struggle that has developed too.

Parvez

Mon Sep 14 2009 13:51:18 #
Unregistered

Daniel, I am immensely proud of you!

Love, Tricia x

Mon Sep 14 2009 14:50:14 #
OCDLONELY
Member

Hello!,

Thank you everyone for your comments of support they really do help and make me feel like I am getting somewhere. I am still out every morning. About 6.30 the last few days and do about 4.7 miles each time. Today I went a little bit further. It is still very hard and I do see things that might stop me everytime I go out but I want this so much. I want my life back and if this is the turning point I'm going to try and never look back. I want to venture more into places where there are people but I'm not sure if it might be too much at the moment. Thanks again for all your kind words they mean a lot. Take care

Daniel

Fri Sep 18 2009 14:28:09 #
Parvez Choudhry
Member

Hi Daniel

I used to have a similar problem being confined to the house and feeling overwhelmed with anxiety if I ventured forth, even just going as far as the front garden gate. But I kept working at it like you, going a little bit further each time, and eventually I conquered my fear. I can now walk any distance from home without any trepidation and I can even walk along the pavement of a busy high street. Since you have made such good progress so far, it sounds like it is just a matter of time before you'll be able to do the same, so I hope you'll keep pushing yourself and don't be discouraged if you have an occasional disappointing performance. I think all people with OCD have the occasional bad day when things seem inexplicably harder than usual - but don't be put off by that and just be encouraged by the overall improvement despite a few blips along the way.

Each time you come back home after a successful walk, reward yourself by doing something extra especially nice, such as make yourself a delicious fruit smoothie or watch your favourite film on DVD. My psychiatrist advised me to do this. I know it sounds like throwing a fish to a performing sea lion in a circus every time it balances a ball on its nose but I found it really did build my sense of achievement and lift my self-esteem. It's worth celebrating your successes!

Warm good wishes
Parvez

Fri Sep 18 2009 15:09:43 #
OCDLONELY
Member

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to update you on my progress. I am still going out everyday but the last few days have been really testing for me. Tuesday was hard because pretty much as soon as I left the house something happened and I felt so contaminated and frightened. I dealt with it when I got back home but then thought to myself mayby having a day off would be a good thing? I then worried that if I did have a day off would it lead to more days of and me eventually not going out? ( A friend said the same thing) So I thought instead of my long walk I would go to the local shop instead. It's still going out and going into a shop is really hard for me but the time out would be shorter. Well as I'm sure a lot of you have discovered too is that when we try to avoid things we pretty much always find something else and in this case it was worse. The thing is I'm still glad I went out even though it was horrible but it did make me more anxious about the next day. Well today I went out and it was scary at first but I got into my stride and was glad to be outside. Yes there was a lot of things that worried me but I still did it and survived and I will continue. The support I get from people here and from a few other places really helps and pushes me forward. Thank you for your support and for taking the time to read my rambling lol. Hope you're all doing well. Take care

Daniel

Thu Sep 24 2009 8:20:52 #
Nimrod
Key Master

Well done Daniel. Keep it up. We are proud of you. Not only is it good for you but it gives the rest of us some much needed encouragement.

Best wishes,
Caps

Thu Sep 24 2009 10:08:39 #
brennie
Member

Daniel, Well done for not giving up the fight, i know how difficult this has been for you ... hey! but what a great inspiration you have been to others .

Keep up this excellent work Dan
love brennie x

Thu Sep 24 2009 12:11:55 #